Best Heath Ledger Podcasts (2025)

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Artist Vincent Fantauzzo on fighting, dyslexia – and painting Heath Ledger 44:36

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8d ago44:36

44:36

In this episode, we talk to Vincent Fantauzzo – the Melbourne portrait artist famous for hyperrealist renderings of a long list of prominent people. He’s painted movie stars (like Hugh Jackman), underworld figures (like Mick Gatto), politicians (like Julia Gillard), sporting heroes (like Oscar Piastri) and icons (like Michael Gudinski). Good Weeken…

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True crime writer Mark Dapin on cops, Chopper, and the good within bad people 39:40

1d ago39:40

39:40

In this episode, we speak with Mark Dapin. Dapin is a veteran true crime writer, with a career including a stint as editor of the lad mag Ralph - but also as a columnist for Good Weekend. He has spent many, many hours with infamous hardened criminals, and now - for a story in the current issue of Good Weekend - has flipped sides to see through the …

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Bonus Episode - Separating the Art from the Artist, Heist Movies, and Directors in Exile 52:00

4d ago52:00

52:00

This week in the Wrap Party, Zeth and Jake are talking about Roman Polanski and separating the art from the artist, handing out fresh music and movie recommendations, and responding to your voicemails, texts, emails, and DMs. Next week, get ready for our episode on Jane Fonda. In the meantime, Zeth and Jake want to hear from you. What are you watch…

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Alice's Restaurant (1969) Arlo Guthrie, Arthur Penn, Pat Quinn, & James Broderick 1:10:55

4d ago1:10:55

1:10:55

Book Vs. Movie: “Alice’s Restaurant” Arlo Guthrie’s 1967 18-minute Song Vs the 1969 Movie Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant” is an 18-minute satirical folk monologue and song that became an anthem for the 1960s counterculture. Officially titled “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree,” it was released in 1967 on his debut album. The piece tells a true, albe…

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Roman Polanski: Nazis, Murder, and Life on the Lam 42:06

6d ago42:06

42:06

As a child, Roman Polanski escaped from a Krakow ghetto on the day the Nazis took his father to a concentration camp. As a new filmmaker, he became the toast of young Hollywood with his 1968 horror masterpiece, Rosemary’s Baby. But after the brutal murder of his wife, Sharon Tate, at the hands of the Manson family, Polanski unraveled. He wound up c…

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Jennifer Shaffer BDay Wishes from Luana, Kobe, Robert Towne, Amelia, her parents 36:36

9d ago36:36

36:36

It's that time of year when our pal Jennifer Shaffer hits another milestone. In this podcast Luana Anders and Jennifer's parents Jim and Linda stopped by to say hello and remind her of their being close by at all times. A visit from Kobe and Amelia to weigh in on a couple of questions, but mostly a discussion of how to stay in touch with people off…

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Bonus Episode - Gnarly L.A. Stories, Gnarly L.A. Gangsters, Porn Stars, and Washed-Up Protagonists 46:15

11d ago46:15

46:15

This week in the Wrap Party, Zeth and Jake are talking about John Holmes, Boogie Nights, commercials from the ‘80s and ‘90s, Gen X, the difference between Eddie and the Hot Rods and Eddie and the Cruisers, summer playlists, and washed-up protagonists. Next week, get ready for our episode on Roman Polanski. In the meantime, Zeth and Jake want to hea…

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John Holmes: Big Units, Freebase Briefcases, Four on the Floor, and the Wonderland Murders 41:27

13d ago41:27

41:27

John Holmes unexpectedly found fame in the 1970s with a freakishly large appendage that proved a gateway into the burgeoning adult entertainment industry. He appeared in over 2,000 porn films and is alleged to have slept with over 14,000 women. But a severe drug habit put him in close contact with some strange bedfellows in the Los Angeles underwor…

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"Pride and Prejudice" & 2022's "Fire Island" Joel Kim Booster, Bowen Yang, Margaret Cho & Jane Austen 1:23:59

13d ago1:23:59

1:23:59

Book Vs. Movie: For Pride Month 1813’s “Pride and Prejudice” Vs. 2022's "Fire Island" June is Pride Month worldwide, and the Margos are excited to celebrate with some of the best LGBTQIA-centric books and movies. One highlight is the 2022 film *Fire Island*, directed by Andrew Ahn and written by Joel Kim Booster. This clever and heartfelt adaptatio…

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Crime writer Mark Brandi on the ‘incredibly painful’ experience that changed his life 39:51

15d ago39:51

39:51

In this episode, we talk to Mark Brandi. The renowned crime novelist writes about outsiders: heroin addicts, former prisoners and child victims of poverty and violence – and joins us to chat about his new book, Eden, out on June 25. We take a look at Brandi's family background, including the racist, small-town harassment of his father – as well Bra…

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Bonus Episode - Immortality and Invincibility at the Movies, and Posthumous Performances 47:42

18d ago47:42

47:42

On this week in the Wrap Party, Zeth and Jake are talking about becoming immortal on the big screen, discussing music and movie recommendations inspired by the late, great Bruce Lee, and responding to your messages about everything from Will Smith to David Lynch. Next week, get ready for our episode on porn star John Holmes and the infamous Wonderl…

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Bruce Lee: Fists of Fury, the Death Touch, Murder Suspect #1, and Hollywood’s Ultimate Outsider 44:25

20d ago44:25

44:25

Bruce Lee got into so much trouble as a kid in Hong Kong that his parents banished him to the place of his birth: America. There he found all kinds of new trouble to get into. He upset kung fu traditionalists with his revolutionary style of fighting. He challenged long-held perceptions in racist Hollywood. He was an outsider determined to change th…

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"Breakfast with Scot" (2007) Michael Downing, Tom Cavanagh, Ben Shenkman, & Noah Bernett 1:08:37

20d ago1:08:37

1:08:37

Book Vs. Movie: Breakfast with Scot The 1999 Novel Vs the 2007 Movie Michael Downing’s 1999 novel Breakfast with Scot and the 2007 film adaptation of the same name both follow the story of a gay couple who unexpectedly become the guardians of a precocious and flamboyant eleven-year-old boy named Scot. But while they share a common setup, the tone, …

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How China ate Apple – and is now weaponising its technology against the West 35:53

22d ago35:53

35:53

In this episode, we talk to award-winning investigative journalist Patrick McGee, who for years led the Financial Times’ reporting on the meteoric rise of Apple Inc to become the world’s most valuable company after being on the brink of bankruptcy in 1996. As the iPod, iPhone and iPad revolutionised the way we live, Apple injected eye-watering amou…

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Hacking the Afterlife with Jennifer Shaffer, Brian Wilson, Prince, Luana, Aretha Franklin 32:20

23d ago32:20

32:20

Another mind bending podcast. In this we begin by talking about our recent appearance at Contact in the Desert. I did a guided meditation with a law enforcement person who reached out to me today to talk about something that occurred to him. He knew someone in the midst of the conflagration in downtown LA, and based on something we discussed at the…

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Bonus Episode – Triple Threats, Mobbed Up Producers, and Post Prison Movies 41:44

25d ago41:44

41:44

On this week in the Wrap Party, Zeth and Jake are talking about entertainers who simultaneously dominate the small screen, the big screen, and the airwaves, as well as responding to your messages about everything from Jack Nicholson’s wild Hollywood nights to how one big studio head may or may not have had mob ties. Next week, get ready for our epi…

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John Belushi: Punk Rock Riots, Chicago Street Brawls, and Missions from God 43:14

27d ago43:14

43:14

John Belushi may have been one of the funniest comedians of his generation, but he wasn’t just a funny guy. He was a rock star. He partied with the Stones, fronted a world-class band of R&B legends, and was responsible for a punk rock riot in Rockefeller Center. He drew the ire of street gangs in Chicago, attempted to steal a boat with his blues br…

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Hacking the Afterlife with Jennifer Shaffer, Prince, Luana, Nojah, 5 and Jim Medlyn 30:57

29d ago30:57

30:57

Another one of those mind bending podcasts. We begin by reviewing our visit to Contact In the Desert over the weekend, where we did a lecture and a workshop. (Both are available at the ContactInTheDesert.com website) In our lecture members of the audience asked questions from Jennifer and in the workshop, our moderator on the Flipside brought someo…

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Dos and don’ts of home renos and building: A checklist from Grand Designs’ Anthony Burke 41:06

1M ago41:06

41:06

In this episode, we talk to Anthony Burke. You might know him as the ubiquitous host of multiple renovation TV shows on the national broadcaster, including Grand Designs Australia, Grand Designs Transformations and Restoration Australia. (He's even got a new one about Asian design, called Culture by Design.) Today, he shifts from sympathising with …

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Y’all Gone Get It Today – Breaking Down Girls Girls Culture w/ Juming Delmas & Bryan Cahn 1:10:02

1M ago1:10:02

1:10:02

Hold onto your edges and prepare your spirit, because y’all gone get it today! In this unfiltered episode, Juming Delmas and Bryan Cahn dive headfirst into the wild, chaotic, and sometimes delusional world of Girls Girls Culture — you know, the soft-life-meets-hot-mess aesthetic that’s got social media in a chokehold. From luxury brunch behavior to…

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Bonus Episode – Join Us in the Wrap Party 45:33

1M ago45:33

45:33

Welcome to the Wrap Party, the weekly bonus episode of the HOLLYWOODLAND podcast hosted by longtime Double Elvis writer and editor Zeth Lundy, along with HOLLYWOODLAND's host, Jake Brennan. This week we're talking about crimes of the century, rock star comedians, and Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle. Next week, get ready for our episode on John Belushi. In …

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Heath Ledger's tragic death re-visited; Hugh Jackman's "good guy" image under pressure & The pea snack that fooled us! - feat. Paul Ayre 32:58

1M ago32:58

32:58

The Two Smart Blondes are joined by special guest, Paul Ayre. Paul is an actor, comedian and writer, based in Sydney. They dive into: *Heath Ledger's tragic death - re-examined ... an how actors embody a character. There has been a flurry of articles and talk about Heath Ledger this past week, all due to one short sentence, spoken by Michelle WIlli…

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Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle: Underground Brothels, Hush Money, Bootlegged Booze, and the Making of Hollywood’s Greatest Scandal 47:33

1M ago47:33

47:33

A century ago, at the birth of movie superstardom, silent film star Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle was at the center of a scandal that rocked Hollywood to its core. He was accused of a murderous sex crime so depraved that it turned the nation not only against him but against Hollywood itself. It led to the trial of the century, and a test of whether Ameri…

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The Mirror Crack'd (1980) Agatha Christie, Miss Marple, Angela Lansbury, Elizabeth Taylor & Rock Hudson 1:27:07

1M ago1:27:07

1:27:07

Book Vs. Movie: The Mirror Crack’d The 1962 Agatha Christie Novel Vs the 1980 Movie When Agatha Christie published The Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side in 1962, it was a haunting tale of guilt, glamour, and murder set in the seemingly quiet village of St. Mary Mead. Nearly two decades later, Hollywood brought the story to life with an all-star cast…

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'I was so scared': A forced-marriage survivor's harrowing story – and escape 25:46

1M ago25:46

25:46

In this episode we bring you the remarkable story of Miriam* (not her real name), a survivor of forced marriage. Often confused with arranged marriage, forced marriage means one person is not giving their full consent – sometimes due to coercion, deception, incapacitation or threats. Each year the Australian Federal Police deal with about 90 cases,…

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Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson: A Teenage Jewel Thief, a Heel Turn Betrayal, and Raising the People’s Eyebrow 39:40

1M ago39:40

39:40

Long before he raised the People’s Eyebrow, dropped the People’s Elbow, and laid the smackdown on the candyass world of Hollywood, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson ran a jewelry theft ring in Waikiki. He and his peers worked the posh shopping district, snatching and grabbing whatever they could get their hands on and then pawning their haul for cold, hard…

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Hacking the Afterlife with Jennifer Shaffer, Luana Anders, Michael Hutchence and Elvis 43:27

1M ago43:27

43:27

A Memorial Day weekend podcast. Michael Hutchence, who passed in 1997 stopped by to say hello. He said that he wanted to "talk about death" but it wasn't until I was uploading this I realized he was referring to "a day where we remember people who have passed away." I mentioned that we had spoken to him briefly before, that transcript is in one of …

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"See How They Run" (2002) Agatha Christie, "The Mousetrap", Sam Rockwell & Saoirse Ronan 1:21:56

1M ago1:21:56

1:21:56

Book Vs. Movie: See How They Run The 1947 Agatha Christie Play (Three Blind Mice) Vs the 2022 Sam Rockwell Film Agatha Christie’s radio play Three Blind Mice was introduced in 1947 and was the basis for 1952’s The Mousetrap, the longest-running play in theater history. See How They Run (2022) is a clever, stylish murder mystery set in 1950s London.…

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Chef prodigy Hugh Allen on his new restaurant, creativity – and recognising critics 37:54

1M ago37:54

37:54

In this episode, we talk to Hugh Allen. Allen, of course, was made executive chef of iconic three-hat Melbourne restaurant, Vue de Monde, at the tender age of 23. The son of a nurse and a paediatrician – both terrible cooks, it must be said – Allen was once marked at high school as a "struggling" student, but through food, he became a star. Allen j…

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Firefighter Protests Go Viral and 10 years of Australia in Eurovision - feat. Ben Eltham 35:44

2M ago35:44

35:44

Our special guest is Ben Eltham, who is a writer, journalist, researcher and creative producer based in Ararat, VIC. Why does the media struggle to report on suicide? The AFL world and the entire nation has been rocked by the death of Adam Selwood and just months earlier, the death of his twin brother Troy. Tributes are of course flowing for Adam, …

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Harper Valley PTA (1978) Barbara Eden, Ronny Cox, Nanette Fabray, Tom T. Hall & Jeannie C. Riley 55:46

2M ago55:46

55:46

Book Vs Movie: “Harper Valley PTA" The 1968 Song Vs the 1978 Movie (really!) (It's one of our favorite episodes from the past!) The song was written by Tom T. Hall and performed by country singer Jeannie C. Riley in 1968. The story about a “widowed bride” who is slut-shamed by her daughter’s junior high school PTA (Parents Teachers Advisory) and gi…

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Jack Nicholson: Hidden Drugs, Road Rage, and a Shocking Crime 43:37

2M ago43:37

43:37

In some of Hollywood’s best-loved movies, Jack Nicholson played jokers, sailors, inmates – even the Devil himself. But he never played by the rules. He allegedly mooned a crowd of thousands at a basketball game. His bedroom kinks were laid bare in the papers. He fought the MPAA and the LAPD. And in 1994, he attempted to establish his own set of rul…

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Coming soon - the 40/20 NRL podcast 0:47

2M ago0:47

0:47

40/20 is a brand new NRL podcast from The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. During this year's State of Origin and Finals series we'll be breaking down the biggest stories from across the game with the best journalists and NRL insiders from around the country. We'll be giving you press pass access as we breakdown the latest news, controversy and p…

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Hacking the Afterlife with Jennifer Shaffer, Luana Anders, Hira, Mr. Bailey, Robin Williams 29:28

2M ago29:28

29:28

Our host on the flipside, Luana Anders wanted to talk about our upcoming talks at Contact in the Desert on May 30th at 11 am, and May 31st at 11 am. To those fans of the podcast, Luana is our moderator on the flipside. She passed in 1996, but brought Jennifer and I together and has been moderating our discussions for ten years. Today she wanted to …

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Sleep expert Matthew Walker on snoring, napping, nightmares and the power of slumber 51:53

2M ago51:53

51:53

In this episode, we speak with Matthew Walker. The British neuroscience professor is the author of “Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams”, and he’s coming to Australia shortly to speak at Vivid Sydney in conjunction with the Sydney Writers' Festival. Walker has lately become the sleep expert of choice around the world for his deep …